Reference: Corinthians, First Epistle to The
Easton
was written from Ephesus (1Co 16:8) about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there (Ac 19:10; 20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57).
The news which had reached him, however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from Apollos (Ac 19:1), and then from a letter they had written him on the subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and from Stephanas and his two friends who had visited him (1Co 1:11; 16:17). Paul thereupon wrote this letter, for the purpose of checking the factious spirit and correcting the erroneous opinions that had sprung up among them, and remedying the many abuses and disorderly practices that prevailed. Titus and a brother whose name is not given were probably the bearers of the letter (2Co 2:13; 8:6,16-18).
The epistle may be divided into four parts:
(1.) The apostle deals with the subject of the lamentable divisions and party strifes that had arisen among them (1-4).
(2.) He next treats of certain cases of immorality that had become notorious among them. They had apparently set at nought the very first principles of morality (5; 6).
(3.) In the third part he discusses various questions of doctrine and of Christian ethics in reply to certain communications they had made to him. He especially rectifies certain flagrant abuses regarding the celebration of the Lord's supper (7-14).
(4.) The concluding part (15; 16) contains an elaborate defense of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which had been called in question by some among them, followed by some general instructions, intimations, and greetings.
This epistle "shows the powerful self-control of the apostle in spite of his physical weakness, his distressed circumstances, his incessant troubles, and his emotional nature. It was written, he tells us, in bitter anguish, 'out of much affliction and pressure of heart...and with streaming eyes' (2Co 2:4); yet he restrained the expression of his feelings, and wrote with a dignity and holy calm which he thought most calculated to win back his erring children. It gives a vivid picture of the early church...It entirely dissipates the dream that the apostolic church was in an exceptional condition of holiness of life or purity of doctrine." The apostle in this epistle unfolds and applies great principles fitted to guide the church of all ages in dealing with the same and kindred evils in whatever form they may appear.
This is one of the epistles the authenticity of which has never been called in question by critics of any school, so many and so conclusive are the evidences of its Pauline origin.
The subscription to this epistle states erroneously in the Authorized Version that it was written at Philippi. This error arose from a mistranslation of 1Co 16:5, "For I do pass through Macedonia," which was interpreted as meaning, "I am passing through Macedonia." In 1Co 16:8 he declares his intention of remaining some time longer in Ephesus. After that, his purpose is to "pass through Macedonia."
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While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
This took place for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night and day to admonish each one with tears.
For I have been informed by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you, my brethren.
But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia;
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
I still had no rest in my mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took my leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, he would also complete in you this work of grace.
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. read more. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel;
Hastings
CORINTHIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1. Occasion of the Epistle.
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And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
But he said to them, "Not all men can accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given.
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves free from these, you will do well. Farewell."
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, who was a worshiper of God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio paid no attention to this.
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures.
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
For by the grace given to me I say to every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
For I have been informed by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you, my brethren. What I mean is this, that each one of you says, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
What I mean is this, that each one of you says, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospelnot with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to fleshly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
When I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
Yet we do speak a wisdom among the mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away.
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in favor of one against the other.
when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; not at all meaning the immoral people of this world, or with the greedy and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
When any one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to try trivial cases?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life! read more. So if you have disputes about such matters, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no man among you wise enough to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? Instead, you yourselves defraud and do wrong, and you even do this to your brethren.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be mastered by anything.
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food"but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. read more. By his power God raised the Lord, and he will also raise us up. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." read more. But he who unites himself with the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband
Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
For if a man sees you, who have knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. read more. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?
If others share this right of support from you, do not we all the more? Nevertheless, we did not make use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living from the gospel.
What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my right in the gospel.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. And God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her headit is the same as if her head were shaved.
Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
Therefore when you meet together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat,
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to mute idols, however you may have been moved.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then those having gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and those speaking in various kinds of tongues.
the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as even the law says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
But all things should be done decently and in an orderly way.
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you must also do.
and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go.
Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double benefit.
But I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
But their minds were hardened; for to this day, when they read the old covenant, the same veil remains unlifted, because only in Christ is it removed.
So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your zeal for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
And in this matter I give my advice: it is best for you now to complete what a year ago you began not only to do but to desire.
for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
You look at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is himself the Savior.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is himself the Savior.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
For we wanted to come to you, I, Paul, again and againbut Satan hindered us.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
who have gone astray from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and upset the faith of some.
Smith
Corinth'ians, First Epistle to the,
was written by the apostle St. Paul toward the close of his nearly three-years stay at Ephesus,
which, we learn from
probably terminated with the Pentecost of A.D. 57 or 58. The bearers were probably (according to the common subscription) Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus. It appears to have been called forth by the information the apostles had received of dissension in the Corinthian church, which may be thus explained: --The Corinthian church was planted by the apostle himself,
in his second missionary journey.
seq. He abode in the city a year and a half.
A short time after the apostle had left the city the eloquent Jew of Alexandria, Apollos, went to Corinth,
and gained many followers, dividing the church into two parties, the followers of Paul and the followers of Apollos. Later on Judaizing teachers from Jerusalem preached the gospel in a spirit of direct antagonism to St. Paul personally. To this third party we may perhaps add a fourth, that, under the name of "the followers of Christ,"
sought at first to separate themselves from the factious adherence to particular teachers, but eventually were driven by antagonism into positions equally sectarian and inimical to the unity of the church. At this momentous period, before parties had become consolidated and that distinctly withdrawn from communion with one another, the apostle writes; and in the outset of the epistle, 1Cor 1-4:21, we have this noble and impassioned protest against this fourfold rending of the robe of Christ.
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After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.
And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
This took place for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night and day to admonish each one with tears.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand the things freely given to us by God.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,